Century Farms of North Carolina

An interesting slide show shown at the 2008 Century Farm Family Reunion held at the State Fair in Raleigh is on the web at http://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/Century/2008CenturyFarmSlideShow.pdf. It was slow to load, at least on my computer, but it was worth the wait to see photos (some old, some new) from the following farms:

Barron Farm, Yadkinville

Best Farm, Sampson County

Dockery Farm, Richmond County

Eaton Farm, Davie County

Foster Farm, Surry County

Keene Farm, Johnston County

Loftin Farm, Duplin County

McCullom Farm, Union County

Miller Farm, Yadkin County

Ramseur Farm, Burke County

Ritchey Farm, Vance County

Triple S Ranch, Johnston County

Wakelon Farms, Wake County

Wilson Home, Pitt County

Womack Farm, Polk County

Barber Farm, Rowan County

Baxter Farm, Cherryville

Bob and Dick Stroud Farm, Mocksville

Brown Farm, Wallace

Cawthorne Farm, Henderson

Eaton Farm, Davie County

Fairview Farm, Reidsville

Floyd Farm, Fairmont

Forrest Farm, Greene County

Grover Shaw, Alamance County

Hall Family Farm, Rose Hill

Harris Farm, Williamston

Hodges Farm, Williamston

Holyfield Farm, Dobson

June Bug Farms Family

James J. Walker home, Warren County

Henry and Fay Frazier, Durham County

Lamm Farm, Lucama

Marvin Farm, Robbins

McLeod Farm, Aberdeen

Nichols Huntley Farm, Troy

Oak Point Farm, 1938, Wilmington

Page Price Farm

Ratcliff Farm, Pantego

Reece Farm, Burlington

Roberts Farm, Hillsborough

Shipley Farm, Vilas

Smith Family Farm, Lee County

Stony Knoll Vineyards, Dobson

Storey Farm, Murfreesboro

Taroano, Floyd Family, Henderson

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From the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Community Services web site (http://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/century/history.htm), here’s an explanation of the Century Farms program, which began in 1970:

In 1970, the North Carolina State Fair undertook the largest agricultural project in the fair’s history. To highlight the theme of its 1970 State Fair, "Salute to Agriculture," State Fair officials initiated a search for all families who have owned or operated a farm in North Carolina for 100 years or more. More than 800 farms qualified as a Century Farm.

Century Farm families were honored at a luncheon held in Dorton Arena at the 1970 N. C. State Fair. Agriculture Commissioner, Jim Graham, emceed the event and Lt. Governor Pat Taylor was the featured speaker. The Commissioner congratulated the families for their contributions to North Carolina. "The strength and depth of North Carolina lies with you people who have held the family farm together. You are the fountain head of our economy."

In 1975, Century Farm families were honored again at a luncheon held in the Kerr Scott building. More than 750 Century Farm families attended the event. Thus began the tradition of periodically honoring Century Farm Families during the State Fair.

Century Farms continue to be recognized in North Carolina. In 1988, a commemorative book, North Carolina Century Farms: 100 Years of Continuous Agricultural Heritage, was published. This book provided a history of century farms in North Carolina. Every Century Farm family received a copy.

Today, there are about 52,000 farms in North Carolina, but only about 1,600 have the distinct honor of being a N.C. Century Farm. North Carolina has a rich agricultural heritage and the Century Farm family program celebrates the many contributions farming has made to the state.